vendredi, mars 30, 2012  Without baggage, without angst, without hangups. I believe that this is something that God does call all Christians to do - to cast all our cares on Him, because He cares for us. Not to carry the weight of the world on our shoulders, nor harbour grudges or envy. I've seen what happens when we don't take the time to curate and care for our lives: my father's recent illness has shown this clear well. Having no time to clean and do a health-check on his life is killing him - paralysing him with fear and self-loathing. It's a victim mentality, and I never want to be like that. God is in control: we are NOT victims of happenstance, or slaves to fortune. I believe that decluttering my life begins with the easiest: the physical. So I'm decluttering my room now. Books, clothes, papers, photos, mementos. Take a deep breath... and say yes if I want to give you stuff. Libellés : christian, personal [Declutter: 100 things] |
mercredi, janvier 25, 2012 Running Your Own Business: What, When and How To Pay Yourself, and Why You Need To Think It Through ...at least, in Singapore by Lim May-Ann 25 Dec 2011 (wow I'm SUCH a loser!) written for my friends Ed and Ad Given that you're essentially a one-man show, you need to remember what you're doing this for, and why you're doing this. It's easy to go for broke when you're first starting out, and take on as many clients as you can, but remember - there's a reason why fledging eagles don't fly too well at first: cos they're new at it! So take your time to learn the ropes of how to manage your business, your time, your clients. With the freedom to do whatever, whenever, you have the opportunity to find some kind of equilibrium first, then ramp up if you need to. From what I hear from you, it's not hard finding clients - which is great, but what happens later, when you're maxed out of time, but you aren't earning as much as you'd like? You'll appreciate space/time to expand then. What do you do then? Make a plan: 1. What are your financial commitments? Break it down: parents, church, self/travel, taxes, CPF, savings, madmoney. I usually run it by statistics: * Church 10%, Parents 10% (or however much it is), Income Tax 10% (this is an overestimation), CPF 20%. For CPF, note that you will be getting LESS than your peers who have employers, as employers contribute 16% of their income as well, making their CPF contribution 36% of their income. Which means that their CPF has an EXTRA 16% of what they earn going to it. http://mycpf.cpf.gov.sg/ You might also be interested to know that according to Financial Planners, the recommended savings percentage is 40%. I know, it's CRAZY. This generally leaves 50% left for yourself and your travel, savings and mad money. But not really, since there's always stuff to buy and things that break and need maintenance. 2. Assume makes an Ass of U and Me - make assumptions anyway Travel costs: assume that you have one student per weekday, and 5 over the weekend (spread over Sat/Sun). Assume that you'll take a cab to/fro their places, and each trip is a return trip (it probably won't be, but let's assume.) Assume each cab ride is $25. That's a sunk cost of $50 per student, so it will cost you $10*50=$500. 2. OK, so you've got a number from those financial commitments. How much do you pay yourself per year then? Factor in yearly inflation in Singapore, which is approx 4-6% (most people estimate it at 5%), and a 10% increase every year, plus a 13th month bonus. So take X (from above), multiply it by 13 months, and then again by 115%, divided by 12. That's how much you should be earning per month. 3. You've got to be kidding. Nope, it really is this mad. And I'm not even factoring in savings for the future and your retirement. Libellés : personal, working life [Running Your Own Business: What, When and How To Pay Yourself, and Why You Need To Think It Through] |
mardi, janvier 10, 2012 I've already been quite disappointed at certain professional acquaintances who have dropped me like a hot potato because I've left my "well-connected" job for another which I find challenging (and therefore personally fulfilling.)While I understand less interaction, I think total silence from a simple greeting email is just plain rude. Libellés : personal, working life [Network Users] |
mardi, juin 07, 2011 I was up north in Myanmar a couple of weeks back, visiting my kid. I've not actually met her since I started supporting her when she was around 9, and she's now 12+. She lives in a pretty violent border state, so doesn't speak much English. She also speaks only Kayin, not the national Myanmar language, so my Lonely Planet guidebook was pretty much useless... but we had a lovely afternoon together nonetheless.Some of you have asked what she looks like, so here's a shot of both of us at the zoo.  Libellés : personal [My kid up north] |
lundi, mars 28, 2011 Life's been a bit bumpy recently, and it's recently been a little difficult to breathe. Nouns and adjectives: adolescent, pawn, invisible. Libellés : personal [Hard to breathe/Goodnight] |
dimanche, mars 20, 2011 Singapore Meritocracy vs Foot in the Door  To all the talk recently about how underprivileged children can move up in the social ladder, I say - bullshit. There will always be old boys' networks, and who your parents are (and your parents' parents are) will ALWAYS matter. Ceteris paribus meritocracy means you have your foot in the door thanks to your connections - which will always be an ace up your sleeve after meritocracy has its say. I have intimate experience with this since I am the person who manages our internship programme in my workplace. I've had at least three interns whose parents sort of know my boss in some way, who basically shot a personal email to my boss requesting for internships for their children, and of course my boss subtly/not-so-subtly nudges me to take them. How can I not capitulate under such pressure? Now, are these kids idiots? No, far from it - they're bright young things... with the exceptional exception of one total airhead bimbo who seemed to be very poor - she couldn't seem to buy enough cloth to wear to work. Are these kids particularly exceptional? Nope, not anymore than the next candidate. So meritocracy does demand that I give them a chance (it would be bad to discriminate against these lucky kids who get born with silver spoons in their mouths) - but after all is said and done, and the cards are revealed... it's always the ones with the family connections who win the game. Is it meritocratic? I suppose so, if you want to consider "family connections" as something which should be considered. But is this fair? Not really. The solution is total transparency about who gets what job and why. Enough about meritocracy being alive and well, and look closer into what exactly you're putting on the table when you're interviewing people. People with a familial foot in the door should be declared loudly and clearly, for transparency's sake. This way, we'll always know who's in (figurative) bed with whom. And we'll know who the good guys are. Libellés : personal, singapore, working life [Singapore Meritocracy vs Foot in the Door] |
mercredi, mars 09, 2011 Enough already - let's talk about things that matter  I attended a "business and social enterprise" discussion today, and thankfully missed most of it. Every time I sit through one of these things, it just makes me feel like I'm sitting in a room full of idealists (which is good) who want businesses to behave responsibly to their stakeholders (which is unrealistic.) I keep wanting to say - enough already about "Social Enterprise", and stop embracing it like it's the thing that will save the world. It's just Corporate Social Responsibility/CSR repackaged into a more "sustainable" and "holistic" form, and even that is just good public relations. Instead, let's talk about character. Ethics. Morals and virtues. Integrity. Authenticity. Let's talk about the thing which drives you and I. Let's talk about motivations, and whys. Let's talk about the Golden Rule (or God's commandments), and then let's build these intangible things... then see how enterprising a social spirit innate can be. 2 Timothy 1:7 - For the Spirit God gave us does not make us timid, but gives us power, love and self-discipline. Libellés : christian, personal, thinking, working life [Enough already - let's talk about things that matter] |
mardi, mars 01, 2011  Libellés : personal [sigh.] |
vendredi, février 18, 2011 Testing out a few nights worth of curly hair to see how I like it: This is such a narcissistic post that I might take it down after posting it, so catch it when I'm still ok with it being up.Libellés : personal [Trying out a new 'do] |
mercredi, février 16, 2011 Look who went swimming with me on Sunday! (or rather, look who I went swimming with!)  Kidnapped! Where are you taking me?  Q amused at mummy blowing bubbles (kept trying to blow them too but ended up drinking loads of water)  Ahoy sailor!  I'd like the camera please!  Fascinated by the jacuzzi bubble jets  拍拍头, a song Q learnt in Chinese class  Why are we out of the pool?  Wrapped up as a dragon  Mummy, it's over? Libellés : personal [Swimming with the Q] |
dimanche, janvier 02, 2011 2010: Another Year of God's Grace  1. School: 2010's writing exercise was a time of great calmness and having the feeling of being totally covered by God's protection and guidance as friends rallied to pray and encourage.2. Church: CEC's learning curve was steep, and while my body broke down in the end, God again reminded me that it's HIS camp, not mine. An excellent reminder. 3. Community: Some incidents this year showed God working hard behind the scenes: Aunty Jenny reaching out to me mysteriously just as I was at the end of my tether, me reaching out to Regina just as she was about to go under over her head while doing her own school writing exercise, friends reaching out to each other in the nick of time sometimes, and propping each other up in times of need as we lead our quiet, desperate lives. 4. Work: it was a good year of good, solid work. Incomplete, and ever upward, but I felt that I did hold up my end of the ship (as did my boss, phew.) 5. Learning: (a) one more module till I get my BTS LLD cert! (b) sewing is fun, but hard! (c) diving 40m can make you a little loopy (d) cooking Christmas dinner for 30 pax will take 3 days of preparations and approx 5 hours of cooking. ... and here comes 2011.
[2010: Another Year of God's Grace] |
samedi, octobre 02, 2010 Guess which bad boy I celebrated a momentous day in July with? good boy even let mummy eat a meal in relative peace! Libellés : personal [Celebrity] |
lundi, septembre 06, 2010 Safety means colouring within the lines While I'm not a proponent of reckless living, I think that life should be lived. Life tends to fall into certain grooves after a while - we are creatures of habit - and stepping out of that groove once in a while gives our life dish a little more flavour.So pardon my dust as you sit by your porch. Libellés : personal [Safety means colouring within the lines] |
dimanche, mars 14, 2010 my father was in taipei-taiwan last wkand there was an earthquake my father is in tokyo-japan this wk and there is an earthquake i just emailed my dad to stop his mischief Libellés : personal [My Dad Rocks The World] |
mercredi, février 17, 2010 Boots: a girly post to great footwear  Friends who see me often know of my long-standing love for boots. I bought my first after falling in helplessly in love with a pair that winked at me in a corner store at Bugis - but fool that I was, I almost let it get away, and took my time walking around Bugis village before coming back to it finally, and buying the dusky brown, knee high pair.They were flat boots, made of PVC, cost $59, had a zip at the side, and had some criss-cross strips at the ankle. My mother taught me to calculate the worth of something by dividing the cost by the number of times you use something - and let me tell you, these boots were worth every cent I paid for them, and more. They looked something like the pair on the left. The PVC started to give way some time at the 1.5 year mark, and I went looking for a new pair. But alas! Heel-less boots in Singapore are pretty hard to find, especially heel-less boots without tacky tassels or other embellishments. Worse so if you want to find one with a zip, and on a budget. While Boots v.1 slowly disintegrated, I frantically searched Bugis and Far East Plaza for a pair - to no avail. I even shopped very hard in Bangkok when Rie and I went - but no cigar.  I finally gave up the search for a sturdy pair, and bought v.2, a high-heeled, black pair at Dunamis (Far East Plaza Level 2.) These were also PVC, and cost about $69. They've been serving me very well for the last 1.5 years, but like all good things, they're coming to an end soon - I can see signs of stress around the creases, which will soon open up into irreparable tears.I'm fairly sad to see this pair suffer equipment depreciation, as the zip, which goes all the way down, allows me to squeeze my fat calves into them AND manage to zip my jeans into the boots without too much trouble.  So I've been in the market for another pair of flat, knee-high boots for the last 3 months. To date, my shopping has yielded one accidental catch: a gorgeous pair, tan, leather, knee-high, and made from real leather, on 70% discount from Mango. They've got no zip and have a heel, both of which don't meet my criteria, but honestly, you can't say no to a 70% discount on a well-made pair from a good brand. For $99, it's a steal.However, the object of my footwear affection remains elusive. Shopping with Ben at Bugis (as he searched for his white wedding shoes) has yielded nothing, and Dunamis only has has stuff with either tassels, or no zip. I have to admit that there are some pretty ones available at Bugis (best variety available in the Village), but it is impossible to squeeze my jeans into the boots without the zip. I did not realise how hard it was to find boots with zips till I went looking! So if you see a high-cut flat pair, plain, or "manly-looking" (as Ade will say), with a zip, let me know! Heels will only take you so far - after that, it's your calf muscles all the way. [Boots: a girly post to great footwear] |
mercredi, janvier 27, 2010  So maybe it could be that I'm not brave enough to stand up and fight for certain things, but most of the time, I generally feel that it's not really worth the hassle to speak up for unessentials, or things that would be "good to have". How much passion and fire should work take out of you, when it isn't really geared towards the furtherment of God's Kingdom?At the same time that I think these thoughts, I am acutely aware that the holy scriptures clearly instructs us in the way that we see work - Col 3:17 And whatever you do, whether in word or deed, do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him. How much of my fire and passion do I give to work? Given that it has a rigid admin structure which will not permit pragmatic ponderations (i.e. processes will not help with finding solutions to getting good projects done.) How can an organisation that cannot support its own employees, develop and grow larger? When it is hamstrung by a department that does not wish to get on board the innovation train, and refuses to be open to questioning and constructive development for the organisation? tyger tyger burning bright in the forests of the night what immortal hand or eye can frame thy fearful symmetry? Libellés : personal, working life [Some thoughts on work] |
samedi, décembre 26, 2009  There's no comparing the two; it's comparing apples and oranges. The more important questions are: When are you going to get off the starting block? Are you at the right meet? Are you on the right lane? Those are harder to answer.
[Spring vs Long Distance] |
mercredi, décembre 23, 2009 real computer geeks talk to their computers  Today the funniest thing happened - the church public computer was acting rather strangely and was performing very slowly (turns out it has a terrible virus which we're trying to exorcise now). J and I were typing on the Christmas programme, trying hard to figure out what was wrong with it. We decided that the computer was ill or just acting up. Immediately, both of us independently stroked the computer, simultaneously saying: (me) "Sayang-sayang" / (J) "Are you okay?" Behold the litmus test for real computer geeks. HAVE YOU HUGGED YOUR COMPUTER TODAY? Libellés : church, personal, technology [real computer geeks talk to their computers] |
mardi, décembre 15, 2009 Gary Chapman's Five Love Languages Have you taken the test? If not, why not just find out? It makes for much better communication.I feel loved when...The Five Love LanguagesMy Primary Love Language is Physical Touch
About this quizUnhappiness in relationships is often due to the fact that we speak different love languages. It can be helpful to know what language you speak and what language those around you speak. Take the Quiz! And just cos I was super kaypoh: c.t. quality time: 11 physical touch: 7 acts of service: 7 words of affirmation: 4 receiving gifts: 1 m.t. Physical Touch: 9 Acts of Service: 8 Quality Time: 7 Words of Affirmation: 6 Receiving Gifts: 0 j.e. acts of service 9 quality time:9 words of affirmation: 6 physical touch: 4 gifts: 2 pc Quality Time: 8 Physical Touch: 7 Words of Affirmation: 6 Acts of Service: 5 Receiving Gifts: 4 d.l physical touch 11 quality time 8 words of affirm 4 gifts 3 service 3 h.ww acts of service 10 quality time 6 physical touch 5 receiving gifts 5 affirmation words 4 Libellés : personal [Gary Chapman's Five Love Languages] |
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mardi, décembre 08, 2009  So you're in spin class, and let's face it, it's been a while since the last time you tortured yourself with this class (although you sort of excused yourself by saying that the music's so ah beng and mostly unsingable, so it wasn't so fun.)And then about 45 mins into the class, you're in 3rd position, huffing heavily, and you think your heart is about to simply explode from the strain, and suddenly, there's a tap on your hand. You look up and the sweat-drenched face of your friend tells you, "Go faster." Bring it on, baby.
[bring on the pain (redux)] |
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